Cask-head closure.



No. 805,508. PATENTED NOV. 28, 1905. CARL WBLLHUPER, s3. GASK HEAD01.0mm

APPLICATION FILED IBB.26,1905.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CASK-HEAD CLOSURE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 28, 1905.

Application filed February 25, 1905. Serial No. 247,394.

To all whom it imzy concern;

Be it known that I, CARL WELLHoFER, Sr., a citizen of Germany, residingat Heidingsfeld, near Wiirzburg, Bavaria, Germany, have invented certainnew and useful Improvements in Cask-Head Closures; and I do here bydeclare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same.

The present invention consists of an im proved cask-head closure, ashereinafter set forth and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In order to render the present specification easily intelligible,reference is had to the accompanying drawings, in which similar lettersof reference denote similar parts throughout the several views.

Figure 1 is a section through the head of a cask, showing the form ofclosure hitherto in use, the section being taken longitudinally of theclosure-bar. Fig. 2 is a section taken at right angles to that of Fig.1, showing the damage to the head-staves liable with the kind of closureillustrated in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a section through the cask-head,showing one embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 4 is a partplan view of Fig. 3. Fig.- 5 is a part vertical section through thecaskhead, showing a modified form of the invention. Fig. 6 is a planview of the closure-bar and the feet for supporting the same. Fig. 7 isa part vertical section of a further modification, and Fig. 8 a plan ofthe bar. Fig. 9 shows a furtherv embodiment in vertical section, andFig. 10 an end view of Fig. 9.

In casks having the heads curvedinwardly, as shown at Fig. 1, orotherwise not forming a plane surface the lever-bar for tightening upthe door e has usually been made as shown in Fig. 1, and consequentlywhen the door is tightened up the stave of the head is liable to breakaway, as illustrated in Fig. 2, at the inclined portion close to thejoint with the sidewall staves.

According to the present invention the feet against which the resser-barworks are so connected to the latter that they will adjust themselves tothe surface of the staves against which they press, and thus prevent thebreakage of the latter at the point mentioned.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 3

and 4 the door e, with its screw-spindle eand nut, is attached andtightened onto the caskhead by means of the cross-bar a, pivoted at c cto the feet I) b, which rest on the headstaves t t. Owing to thisarrangement the feet will accommodate themselves to the bend of thestaves, and breakage of the latter will be avoided.

In Figs. 5 and 6 the same result is attained by providing the feet I) bwith rounded heads, on which the ends of the presser-bar a rest andagainst which they may be secured, by means of screw-studs c, with nuts,so that in this case also the feet will accommodate themselves to thebend of the caskhead. The studs 0 are arranged in corresponding slots ofthe bar a as shown at Fig. 6.

In Figs. 7 and 8 the desired result is attained by curving the ends ofthe bar a so that the studs 0 of the feet 6 will always be at rightangles to the latter whatever may be the curve of the cask-head.

As shown, the closure is suited to a caskheadof a definite curve. Toadapt it for use changeably on different curvatures, the baraperturesmight be elongated to form slots, as in Fig. 6.

In Figs. 9 and 10 the bar a is U-sl1aped in cross-section, and the feet6 are pivoted between the webs of the same, as at 0 the result being thesame.

Obviously the invention is also available in securing bungs or closuresin the curved sides of casks or in other positions where the wall doesnot form a level plane surface.

' I claim as my invention- 1. The combination, with a cask and a closuretherefor, of feet arranged to rest upon the caskat both sides of theopening, a bar spanning the opening and connecting the feet, and meansfor attaching the closure to the bar at a point between the feet. 7

2. The combination, with a cask and a closure therefor, of feet arrangedto rest upon the cask at both sides of the opening, a bar spanning theopening and movably connected at its ends to the feet, andtension-applying means for attaching the closure to the bar at a pointbetween the feet.

3. The combination, with a cask and a closure therefor, of feet arrangedto rest upon the cask at both sides of the opening, a bar spanning theopening and movably connected at its ends to the feet, a stud secured tothe closure and passing through an aperture in the bar, and a nutthreaded upon the end of the stud.

4. The combination, with a cask and a closure therefor, of feet arrangedto rest upon the cask at both sides of the opening, an arched barspanning the opening and pivotally connecting the feet, a stud securedto the closure and passing through a hole in the bar between the feet,and a nut threaded upon the end of the stud.

5. The combination, with a cask and a closure therefor, of feet having abroad bearhole in the bar between its two ends, and a 20 nut threadedupon the end of the stud.

In testnnony whereof I hereunto afliX my signature in the presence oftwo witnesses.

CARL WELLHOFER, SENIOR.

Witnesses GEORGE E. BALDWIN, E. HELLMUTH.

ing-surface arranged to rest upon the cask at 15

